History

It's hard to pin-point exactly where Catch Wrestling all began. There are many variations of Catch Wrestling history from many different sources but the earliest history can be traced back to Ancient Greece. However, one interesting version of Catch Wrestling history I enjoy is the one below.

Men of Albion and The Art of Cringe

During the 350 year occupation of Britain by the Romans, the Roman fighters and the men of Albion (Roman name for Britain) would engage in fierce grappling battles where the only rule was, no breaking of bones, a rule often remembered after the fact. The Romans often used a style known as Greco-Roman wrestling and accused the Albion men of barbaric methods of cranks, holds, throws and submissions. These methods known as Catch as Catch Can wrestling (or Catch Wrestling) are used today in such styles as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Shooto and the Mix Martial Arts.

Stories would come out of a small mining town in Britain known as Lancashire where the working miners would battle with moves the men of Albion would use on the Romans during their epic encounters. The Lancashire phrase "catch as catch can" is translated to mean something like "catch a hold anywhere you can" or sometimes, "by any means necessary."

The Lancashire matches would draw crowds from all over where outrageous throws and stylistic submissions often awed the spectators. However, their style of fighting wasn't made popular until people such as Billy Riley (founder of the Snake Pit), Mitsuyo Maeda (founder of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), Satoru Sayama (founder of Shooto), and the "God of Wrestling" Karl Gotch introduced it to the world. These pioneers traveled the continents challenging anyone who would dare test their skills in any arena with any rules. Their legacy over the course of the 19th and 20th century has no doubt revolutionized how the modern world today engages in fighting. During these early fighters' search of greatness, they imposed their will relentlessly and without mercy on proving grounds across the world from traveling carnivals to underground no-holds barred fights. Noticing the ruthless yet scientific execution of their throws and takedowns; as well as the cringe-like expressions on their opponents' faces during the submissions, led many observers to call their methods, the Hardstyle or, the Art of Cringe.